At the time, that area was extremely rough and wild, with numerous outlaws drawn to it due to the lack of law enforcement.

Three of those would be early western gunman "Big" Steve Long, and his half brothers Ace and Con Moyer.

[1][2] Boswell was an original member of the local "Vigilance Committee", organized to help bring order to the lawless area.

Long and his brothers, however, opened a saloon called the Bucket of Blood, and began strongarming settlers into signing away their property.

[2] Boswell organized the citizens, and suggested they wait, and eventually Long would put himself in a position to where they could act against him.

On October 18, 1868 Long attempted to rob a prospector named Rollie "Hard Luck" Harrison.

Boswell organized several men in the town, and they entered the saloon owned by Long and his brothers on October 28.